British DJ duo Disclosure and crooner Sam Smith collaborated for a memorable single “Latch” in 2013, and now they have released a short film in conjunction with Beats by Dre chronicling that single’s creation. The short film is part of the new video series Beat by Beat, where successful electronic artists deconstruct their songs and the recording process behind them.
“Latch,” the lead single off of Disclosure’s debut EP “Settle,” currently sits at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features Disclosure’s trademark U.K. house production as well as an incredible falsetto chorus courtesy of Smith. Disclosure described Smith as “the best voice they’ve ever heard” and having “the voice of an angel.”
The real-life brothers of Disclosure, Guy and Howard Lawrence, detailed the construction of the song from its very inception. They disclosed that surprisingly, the song began not as a vocal showcase for Smith, but as a “club tune with samples all over it.” Smith was also a reluctant collaborator, as he had “no idea what electronic music really was.” Thankfully, they found common ground over their appreciation for the classic R&B artist DeAngelo.
Disclosure have not yet announced their follow-up to “Settle,” but have revealed to Australian radio show Triple J that it will not come until 2015 at the earliest. Meanwhile, they will continue touring the international festival circuit, including stops at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. Sam Smith will release his debut album “In The Lonely Hour” on June 17, 2014. He will embark on a U.S. tour in support of the album this September.
Whether they will collaborate again is yet to be seen, but if the end product is anything like “Latch,” the wait will be worth it.